Meet Joy & Atlas!

Joy Vinson, Head Trainer

Joy’s love for dog training blossomed when she acquired Atlas, her beloved Australian Shepherd. He was a behaviorally complex dog, pushing her to reach out for help. Enter Marie Lockett, of Lockett Canine, who helped mold Joy and Atlas into the team they are today. Under her guidance, Joy was able to fully train Atlas into a medical alert dog for herself as well as continue furthering her education in dog training. Starting at the end of 2022, Joy entered a formal mentorship under Marie and has been busy learning ever since. Now, Joy is confident in her abilities to handle cases ranging from severe behavior modification to puppy socialization to foundations for dog sports.

Currently Joy is enrolled in university pursuing her Bachelor’s in Psychology and double minoring in Applied Behavioral Analysis and Biology. In addition to schooling, Joy is also a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and will be pursuing her Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (IAABC-CDBC) certification this winter.

As for training methods, Joy utilizes a L.I.M.A. Training approach, which stands for Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive. This means that Joy follows the Humane Hierarchy, developed by Dr. Susan Friedman.

Joy is also an AuDHD woman, who proudly supports the disabled, queer, and BIPOC communities she serves.

JV’s Mischief Manage CGC BCAT DDB TKP FTA
“Atlas” - Resident Demo Dog

Atlas is the foundation for By The Bay Dog Training. Sparking Joy’s love of dog training as a teenager, he’s shaped her into the handler and trainer she is today. Atlas is a multi-talented Australian Shepherd, excelling in not only his job as a medical alert service dog for Joy, but also a variety of dog sports. When not working alongside Joy, Atlas can be found enjoying swimming in local creeks or chasing after frisbees. He is a phenomenal service dog, allowing Joy to show up and be the best trainer she can be, for you.

While Atlas is an incredible dog today, his upbringing shook things up for Joy. As a new handler with 4-month old Atlas, he suffered from a severe attack from another dog, leaving him at the emergency vet to be hospitalized. This is what prompted Joy to reach out to trainers for help, igniting her love for dog training.

While working through the outcome of this attack, Joy also began exploring other dog sports to help build up Atlas’s confidence outside of regular training sessions. This is where they both discovered their love of disc sports, eventually competing with the Updog Challenge. Eventually, Atlas brought Joy to their first national dog sport event - Updog International Finals (UPDIF).

Now, Atlas enjoys his job as demo dog, service dog, and sport dog. He is excited to also add the title of Big Brother to his resume, as Joy is starting to prepare to bring home her next service dog prospect over this next year.

Experience & Education

  • Mentorship with Marie Lockett of Lockett Canine (2022 - present)

  • Bachelor’s in Psychology in progress

  • Double Minoring in Applied Behavioral Analysis & Biology in progress

  • IAABC Student Member (June 2025 - present)

  • “Triggers to Cues” (Canine Consilience)

  • Don’t Shoot the Dog (Karen Pryor)

  • Dog Sense (John Bradshaw)

  • “Recognizing Pain & Compensation” (IVBA Webinar)

  • “Defensive Handling with Aggressive Dogs” (IAABC Webinar)

  • “Canine Fear-Based Aggression” (IAABC Webinar)

  • The Stress Factor in Dogs (Kristina Spaulding, PhD CAAB)

  • The Dog Aggression Workbook (James O’Heare)

  • The Canine Separation Anxiety Workbook (James O’Heare)

  • BAT 101: (Re)Socialization for Aggression, Frustration, & Fear (Grisha Stewart)